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MINDFUL MONEY PRACTICE: Take a Media Break

May 4

In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s not hard to become a bit of a media junky, and most of us have our drug of choice. Some folks hit the financial pundits on cable TV every night before bed and then wonder why they can’t sleep. Others get amped up by talk radio jocks on the drive to and from work every day. Still others, myself included, spend a fair amount of time on the internet mainlining any financial news we can get our hands on.

What or who is your drug of choice? Suze Orman? Jim Cramer? Barry Ritholtz? For the next month, go cold turkey. That doesn’t mean you can’t turn on the television, but avoid the financial channels. When the nightly newscaster on your local station starts preaching financial Armageddon, either change the channel or press the off button. The same goes for the radio. Switch to country, classical, or pop music for a month. If the web is your weakness, divert your attention to something more soothing, like crazy cat videos or food blogs. As for the newspaper? Pretend the New York Times doesn’t have a business section for the next thirty days.

Jonathan K. DeYoe is the president of DeYoe Wealth Management in Berkeley, CA, the author of Mindful Money: Simple Practices for Reaching Your Financial Goals and Increasing Your Happiness Dividend, and the founder of Happiness Dividend. Happiness Dividend is a blog offering educational content and tools. The opinions voiced are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which financial choices and which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Financial Planning and Investment Advice are offered through DeYoe Wealth Management, Inc., a registered investment advisor doing business as Happiness Dividend. All performance referenced anywhere on this website is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. Original content written by Jonathan K. DeYoe, PEAK Advisor Alliance, and Broadridge Advisor Solutions (copyright 2017). The Happiness Dividend crew selects and edits all content with permission and care before you see it here. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.Disclosures